On Friday, Mar. 8, at the Charleston Civic Center, Lawson Hamilton performed the trumpet solo, “Andante and Allegro” by Robert Clerisse for the WV Music Educators Association All State Honors Recital.

Lawson was accompanied by his talented and inspiring piano teacher, Nancy Wood. This is the second year in a row that Lawson has achieved this honor through personal dedication and the outstanding support of his teachers.

Lawson is an 8th grade band student at EGMS under the direction of Brian Carr and assistance of Birch Graves. Carr and Graves teach Lawson and classmates every day to make beautiful music for concert band, marching band and Jazz band. Nancy Wood continues to keep Lawson smiling as she drives his development in piano while also sharing her time for many trumpet rehearsals and performances. Gifted trumpeters Jeff Bryant and Brennan Wood were instrumental in the selection and preparation of Lawson’s “Andante and Allegro.”

This past February at the Regional Solo and Ensemble Festival, Lawson achieved a rating of 1 (superior), with a recommendation to audition for the WVMEA All State Honors Recital. GEHS band director, Jim Allder, was kind enough during that festival to make the required audio recording of Lawson’s “Andante and Allegro” for the audition. Recordings are submitted from all over the state and blindly reviewed by a team of nine judges.

Lawson and his parents feel very fortunate to have brilliant teachers and musicians like Nancy Wood, Brian Carr, Birch Graves, Jeff Bryant, Brennan Wood and Jim Allder cultivating young musicians in Greenbrier County.

Lawson is the son of Townley and Trip Hamilton. He is the grandson of Pam and Richard Aide of Ronceverte and Peggy and Paul Radike of Roanoke, VA.